Hat-ventilator.



No- 829,818. PATENTED AUG. 28, 1906. J. W. WEBB.

HAT VENTILATOR.

APPLIOATIOH FILED DEO.13,1905.

' 1n: NORRIS ps-rsns cm, WASHINGTON, 0, c,

JOHN WILLIAM WVEBB, OF COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI.

HAT-VENTILATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 28, 1906.

- Application filed December 13, 1905. Serial No. 291,664.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN IVILLIAM WVEBB, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Lowndes and State of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hat -Ventilators; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to the ventilation of hats of various kinds; and it has for its obj ect to provide a ventilator made of a different material from thebody of the hat and of sufficient stiffness or rigidity to support the crown of the hat and preserve the shape of the hat between the crown and the hat-rim and to resist any tendency or liability to the hat being crushed between the crown and rim, the material constituting the ventilator being formed with elongated vertically-extending openings for the passage of air into and from the interior of the crown at the point where the hat-band is ordinarily applied. If the ventilating opening were formed in the material constituting the body of the hat, the body would be so weakened and the crown have such a frail support that there would be liability of the crown being crushed and the shape at the brim destroyed, and if a wire-netting were employed to unite the crown and the brim there would be liability of crushing the crown next to the brim, and the wire not possessing the quality of resiliency or elasticity the shape of the hat next to the brim would be more or less destroyed and the size or dimension also be seriously affected. By employing a material, however, having sufficient rigidity to impart the necessary strength to resist abnormal strains and also possessing more or less resiliency or elasticity to resume or maintain the normal shape the objectionable features specified are overcome.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing objects the invention consists in a hat having,a ventilator possessing the characteristics hereinafter particularly described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of a Derby hat having my ventilator applied thereto and partly in section to illustrate the preferred manner of connecting the ventilator to the crown and the brim of the hat. Fig. 2 is a perspective of one form. of the ventilator, and Fig. 3 is a perspective of a portion of another form of the ventilator.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the crown of the hat, 2 the brim, and 3 the ventilator connecting the crown and the brim.

Theventilator 3 is preferably formed of hard rubber and comprises a number of verticallyextending ribs 4, spaced apart to form intervening elongated slots or openings 5, the ribs being connected together at their upper or their lower ends, or both, so as to maintain their proper relation one to the other. In the form illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 the ventilator is formed at its lower end with a slot or recess 6 to receive the inner edge of the hat-brim 2, said groove or recess preferably extending in a horizontal plane and having the hat-brim held therein by suitable cement or otherwise. The upper edge of the ventilator is formed with a groove or recess 7, opening upwardly, so as to receive the edge of the hat-crown, which will fit therein. It is preferred to have a lip 8 to extend above the groove on one side, preferably on the inside, so as to form an extended bearing for 'the hat-crown next to the ventilator, thus aflording additional strength and stiffness at .the junction between the ventilator and the crown. The surface of this lip next to the crown may be more or less roughened, so that the cement or glue which may be employed for binding the crown to the ventilator will more tenaciously adhere to the ventilator. The material of which the ventilator is formed may be colored to correspond with the color of the hat, and the surface of the ventilator may be given a polished or a dull effect, according to the surface effect possessed by the hat. By forming the ribs of the ventilator quite close together the necessity of a hat-band may be dispensed with; but, if desired, a hat-band may be employed to cover the ventilator; but as the same involves no invention it is not illustrated. By forming the ventilator ofhard rubber or equivalent material possessing the characteristics mentioned of stiffness and elasticity and capable of having a smooth surface imparted to it a sweat-band may be dispensed with; but, if preferred, a sweat-band may be employed, as usual, and as it forms no part of the invention it is not illustrated.

Instead of forming the ventilator of hard rubber it may be formed of celluloid or some of its equivalent compounds, as such compound will possess a sufficient degree of stiffness and elasticity and smoothness of surface to serve the purposes stated. Such a modified form of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, wherein is shown a strip of celluloid formed with vertical ribs 9, with intervening elongated slots or openings 10. In this form the grooves described as made in the upper and lower edges of the ventilator in the form illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings may be omitted, and the upper and lower edges of the ventilator in its modified form may lap over the crown and the brim of the hat, as illustrated, and be secured thereto by suitable cement or otherwise. In this form it is preferred to employ a hat-band applied to cover the outside of the ventilator and also to provide a sweatband, the hat-band and sweat-band being designated by the numerals 11 and 12, respectively.

A hat provided with a ventilator such as described afiords much comfort to the wearer, because of the thorough ventilation provided, and at the same time it possesses practically'the same strength and durability as a hat in which the crown is joined directly to the brim. Furthermore, the hat will conform with ease to the shape of the head and is not liable to get out of shape, nor will it be made unduly conspicuous by reason of having the ventilator applied thereto. These are some of the advantages resulting from the invention. The ventilator may be applied. to different kinds of hats, a Derby hat being selected merely for the purposes of illustration. V

Having described my invention and set forth its merits, what I claim is ceive the hat-brim and at its upper edge with a groove to receive the hat-crown, substantially as described.

3. A hat provided with a ventilator interposed between the crown and the brim of the hat, said ventilator comprising a stiff body having ventilating-openings and formed at.

its lower edge with a groove to receive the hat-brim and at its upper edge with a groove to receive the hat-crown, and provided with a lip extending above the groove at its upper edge to constitute an extended bearing for the hat-crown, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN WILLIAM WEBB.

'Witnesses J. B. I'IODG'KIN, Jr., B. A. ASHLEY. 

